Factorio Parents Guide: Age Rating, Safety & Tips
Recommended age: 12+
Recommended play time: 1-2 hours. It's a game that requires concentration, so it's important not to overdo it.
Oh, Factorio... my eldest son (15) literally dug into me about this game for months! It took me a while to understand what all the fuss was about, but it turns out it's a whole world of building and planning. Honestly, it's a good game that requires thinking and a lot of patience, even if at first smoke was coming out of my ears from all the machinery.
What is this game
Listen, Factorio is a game where you 'land' somewhere on a planet, and you have to build a giant factory from scratch. At first, you chop wood with your hands, and then slowly you build machines that can mine by themselves, and then machines that can produce other things, and everything needs to be connected with conveyor belts. The goal is to build a rocket and escape the planet... but it will take a long time because there's always something new to build. My son explained to me that it's like LEGO, but with complicated engines and wires. Oh, and there are also aliens that bother you sometimes.
Safety tips
- {"title":"Time Limit (even for adults!)","content":"This game is incredibly addictive; you can sit down for 'just one more thing' and suddenly 4 hours have passed. It's important to set a playing tim…
- {"title":"Breaks and Movement","content":"Because it's such a thoughtful and calm game (usually, until the aliens arrive), it's easy to forget to get up, stretch, and drink water. It's important to r…
- {"title":"Mods and Add-ons","content":"Factorio has many 'mods' (add-ons that change the game). Most of them are perfectly fine, but it's always a good idea to make sure your son downloads them from…
- {"title":"Multiplayer","content":"If he plays with friends online, make sure he knows who he's playing with. It's not advisable to play with complete strangers without supervision because, like anywh…